Vibratory apparatus with structural resilient member

ABSTRACT

A vibratory apparatus includes a first mass comprising a first deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the first deck, a second mass comprising a second deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the second deck, a shaft coupled to the first mass and at least one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft, and at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness, the plate coupled at a first end to the first deck and at a second end to the second deck, the plate having a thickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along the first and second decks, the plate having at least one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a spring characteristic.

BACKGROUND

This patent is directed to a vibratory apparatus having a resilientmember formed of a structural member and a method for manufacturing andoperating a vibratory apparatus with a resilient member formed of astructural member.

It is not uncommon to use slat-type springs in the manufacture of avibratory apparatus, such as a vibratory conveyor. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 5,131,525 illustrates an embodiment of a vibratory conveyorwhere the trough is carried on a plurality of vertical legs. Asexplained therein, because the legs are constructed of a dimension inthe direction transverse to the path of conveyance much larger than adimension (i.e., its thickness) in the direction along the path ofconveyance, the legs are caused to act as resilient means of aleaf-spring type. This leaf-type spring permits displacement of thetrough only in the direction of conveyance.

Such slat-type springs present certain disadvantages relative to otherresilient members, or springs, such as coil springs. The slat-typesprings are more difficult to connect to the trough, adding to theexpense of the vibratory apparatus. Furthermore, there are higherlocalized stresses at the point of attachment for slat-type springs,which can increase the potential for early replacement. As aconsequence, coil springs are used in many applications.

Coil springs present a separate set of issues, however. For example,because of the manufacturing processes used to make coil springs, notall materials can be used, because not all materials can be formed intocoil springs using conventional manufacturing methods. Furthermore, coilsprings typically are available only in standard sizes, causing issuesshould a non-standard sized spring be a more optimal solution for aparticular apparatus. In addition, coil springs can present issues forinstallation/maintenance/replacement, considering that coil springstypically have a loop formed at either end, which loop can be difficultto reach using conventional tools.

It would be advantageous to overcome or substantially ameliorate one ormore of the disadvantages of such existing springs, or at least toprovide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vibratory apparatusincludes a first mass, a second mass, at least one of the first mass andthe second mass having a deck with a path of travel between a firstpoint and a second point along the deck, at least one resilient memberin the form of a plate having a thickness, the plate coupled at a firstend to the first mass and at a second end to the second mass with thethickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along the deck, theplate having at least one opening formed therethrough to form a webhaving a spring characteristic, a shaft coupled to one of the first massand the second mass, the shaft having at least one eccentric weightcoupled thereto, and a motor coupled to the shaft.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vibratoryapparatus includes a trough comprising deck with a path of travelbetween a first point and a second point along the deck, an excitercomprising a platform, and a shaft disposed on the platform with a shaftaxis disposed transverse to the path of travel, and at least oneeccentric weight coupled to the shaft, and at least one resilient memberin the form of a plate having a thickness, the plate coupled at one endto the platform and at a second end to the deck, the plate having athickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along the deck, andat least one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a springcharacteristic.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a vibratoryapparatus includes a first mass comprising a first deck with a path oftravel between a first point and a second point along the first deck, asecond mass comprising a second deck with a path of travel between afirst point and a second point along the second deck, a shaft coupled tothe first mass and at least one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft,and at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having athickness, the plate coupled at a first end to the first deck and at asecond end to the second deck, the plate having a thickness disposedtransverse to the path of travel along the first and second decks, theplate having at least one opening formed therethrough to form a webhaving a spring characteristic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is believed that the disclosure will be more fully understood fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. Some of the figures may have been simplified by the omissionof selected elements for the purpose of more clearly showing otherelements. Such omissions of elements in some figures are not necessarilyindicative of the presence or absence of particular elements in any ofthe exemplary embodiments, except as may be explicitly delineated in thecorresponding written description. None of the drawings is necessarilyto scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vibratory apparatushaving a single deck;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vibratory apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vibratoryapparatus having a single deck;

FIG. 4 is a rear end view of the vibratory apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a vibratory apparatus havingmultiple decks;

FIG. 6 is a rear end view of the vibratory apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vibratory apparatushaving a spiral deck; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the vibratory apparatus of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

A single deck conveyor according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.

The embodiment of a single deck apparatus 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is atwo-mass vibratory apparatus, including a first mass (or exciter) 102and a second mass (or trough) 104. Connected between the first mass 102and the second mass 104 are a number of resilient members 106 (orreactor springs), which are formed from structural elements of theapparatus 100. While the embodiment of the single deck apparatus 100 ofFIGS. 1 and 2 is a two-mass feeder, the embodiments of this disclosureare not limited to feeders, but may be applicable to other types ofvibratory apparatuses, such as conveyors, screens, shakeouts and thelike.

The exciter 102 may include a base 110 that is supported on a referencesurface. In particular, the base 110 may be supported on the referencesurface by resilient members 112, such as coil springs or marshmallowsprings, which resilient members or springs 112 may also be referred toas isolation members or springs. According to certain embodiments, theisolation members may be simply rubber pads. For the reasons providedbelow, the isolation springs 112 even may be omitted from embodiments ofthe present apparatus 100.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the base 110 may include a platform 114 andfirst and second side walls 116, 118 that are coupled to the platform114 along opposing edges of the platform 114. The platform 114 extendsfrom a first end to a second end, and the side walls 116, 118 alsoextend or depend from the first end to the second end of the platform114, although not all embodiments of the apparatus 100 necessarilyrequire such side walls 116, 118 (e.g., the side walls 116, 118 may notextend or depend from the first end to the second end). The side walls116, 118 are used to couple the exciter 102 to the trough 104 asexplained below.

The remainder of the exciter 102 may be coupled, mounted or supported onthe platform 114. For example, the exciter 102 may include a shaft 120with a shaft axis 122 (see FIG. 1) that is disposed coupled to theplatform 114 transverse to the path of travel along the trough 104 withone or more eccentric or eccentric weights 124 coupled to the shaft 120.According to certain embodiments, the shaft 120 is the shaft of anelectric motor 126, which motor is coupled 126 (e.g., by fasteners) tothe platform 114. According to other embodiments, the shaft 120 iscoupled to a shaft of an electric motor, which motor is mounted off theapparatus (e.g., to the side of the apparatus).

It will be recognized that according to other embodiments, the exciter102 may include a plurality of shafts, each with eccentric weightsmounted thereon, with each of the shafts being defined by one of aplurality of motors. In addition, the motor (or motors) 126 may beelectrically coupled to a controller 128 (see FIG. 2), which controller128 may include a microprocessor and memory. The controller 128 may beconfigured (e.g., programmed) to control the operation of the motor 126(and thus the shaft 120) to vary the motion of the material on thetrough 104.

The trough 104 includes a deck 130, and to the extent the trough 104 isconnected to the exciter 104 by the resilient members 106, it may besaid that the deck 130 is connected to the exciter 104 by the resilientmembers 106. The deck 130 has a first end 132 and a second end 134, andmaterial may be moved along the deck 130 with a path of travel between afirst point and a second point, e.g., between the first and second ends132, 134. The deck 130 may have opposing surfaces, which for ease ofillustration may be referred to as a first, or top, surface 136 and asecond, or bottom, surface 138 (see FIG. 1).

The top surface 136 of the deck 130 may be treated or may have one ormore protective layers disposed thereon to protect the deck 130 asmaterial is moved between the first and second ends 132, 134. As afurther alternative, the deck 130 may have openings or passages thatextend between the surfaces 136, 138 to permit the separation ofmaterial moving over the top surface 136 of the deck 130. Separation ofmaterials may also be achieved with a deck 130 that is defined by spacedstructures, such as fingers, that define openings between them andpermit the passage of certain materials through the openings whileretarding the passage of other materials therethrough.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first end 132 of the deck 130 is atsubstantially the same elevation as the second end 134 of the deck 130relative to a reference surface (i.e., the deck is horizontal). Thereference surface may be defined by a foundation, which in turn may bethe ground story of a building or an upper story of such a structure.According to other embodiments, the first end 132 of the deck 130 may beabove or below the second end 134 of the deck 130 (i.e., the deck 130 istilted or sloped, for example to allow gravity to assist or retardmotion of material along the deck 130).

The trough 104 may also include a first side wall 140 and a second sidewall 142 extending or depending from the first end 132 to the second end134, although not all embodiments of the apparatus 100 necessarilyrequire such side walls 140, 142 (e.g., the side walls 140, 142 may notextend or depend from the first end 132 to the second end 134, or thesprings 106 may be connected directly to the deck 130). The first andsecond side walls 140, 142 each have facing surfaces that with thesurface 136 of the deck 130 define an open-topped volume (althoughaccording to certain embodiments, the trough 104 may also include a hoodthat closes or covers the open top). For example, the first side wall140 has an inner-facing surface 144, and the second side wall 142 has aninner-facing surface 146, and the inner-facing surface 144 of the firstside wall 140 faces (or opposes) the inner-facing surface 146 of thesecond side wall 142.

The deck 130 is disposed between the first and second side walls 140,142 (when included, as illustrated) and is coupled to the first andsecond side walls 140, 142. In this regard, the deck 130 is said to becoupled to the side walls 140, 142 when the deck and side walls aredirectly connected or indirectly connected (for example, when the sidewalls 140, 142 are connected by cross-members and the deck 130 isconnected to the cross-members). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the deck 130has a first edge 148 that is coupled to the first side wall 140(specifically, the inner-facing surface 144) and a second edge 150 thatis coupled to the second side wall 142 (specifically, the inner-facingsurface 146).

As also illustrated, the deck 130 is integrally connected to the firstand second side walls 140, 142 so that the deck 130 and first and secondside walls 140, 142 are part of a unitary (i.e. one-piece) assembly. Thedeck 130 and side walls 140, 142 may be formed as a unitary assembly bybending a single piece of metal to define the deck 130 and side walls140, 142, for example. This need not be the case for all embodiments ofthe apparatus 100.

While the illustrated embodiment includes a deck 130 that defines astraight path between the first and second ends 132, 134, it is possiblethat the deck 130 be curved instead. To this end, the side walls 140,142 may also be curved, to confine materials moving along the deck 130to the curved path, although the materials may move along the deck 130in a curved path without the need to include curved side walls 140, 142.

The apparatus 100 also includes a plurality of plates 170 disposed to afirst side and a second side of the deck 130. A plate 170 is a thinsheet of metal or other material, which may be flat or two-dimensionalin quality (i.e., planar) or may be shaped (e.g., curved) to bethree-dimensional in quality. Where the plate 170 is three-dimensional,the plate 170 retains a thickness that is considerably smaller indimension that the length and/or width of the plate 170. As illustrated,four plates 170 are arranged about the apparatus 100, one pair at thefirst end 132 and one pair at the second end 134 with one plate 170 ofeach pair disposed on either the first side or the second side of thedeck 130 (and thus the trough 104).

The plates 170 are joined at a first end 172 to the exciter 102 (and inparticular to one of the side walls 116, 118) and at a second end 174 tothe trough 104 (and in particular to one of the side walls 140, 142).The plates 170 are joined to the exciter 102 and the trough 104 withfasteners (e.g., bolts/nuts, rivets, etc.), for example. The connectionof the plates 170 to the sides 140, 142 of the deck 130 as illustratedmay provide for a better transfer of forces between the exciter 102 andthe trough 104, as the fastener (e.g. bolts) which may be used to jointrough 104, exciter 102, and plates 170 together may perform betterunder the shear conditions created than in the compression/tensioncycling created, for example, when slats are used and arrangedtransverse to the trough 104. In addition, a spacer may be disposedbetween the plates 170 and the exciter 102 or the trough 104. Inparticular, these spacers may be disposed between the first end 172 andthe side walls 116, 118 of the base 110 and the second end 174 and theside walls 140, 142 of the trough 104.

As illustrated, the plates 170 have at least one opening 176 formed inthrough the plate 170. The opening 176 defines a plurality of webs 178that join the exciter 102 to the trough 104. These webs 178 have athickness that is disposed transverse to the path of travel of materialalong the deck 130 between the first end 132 and the second end 134. Thethickness of the webs 178 is considerably smaller in dimension that thelength and/or width of the plate 170. The webs 178 define the pluralityof resilient members or springs 106 coupled between the trough 104 andbase 110 (and thus the exciter 102).

As is also illustrated, the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 has plates 170with three openings 176 each. While other embodiments may use othershapes, each opening 176 of this embodiment is of a generally ovalshape, having a major axis 180. The three openings 176 are arranged onthe plate 170 with two of the openings disposed to the right and theleft (as illustrated in FIG. 2) of a central opening. The major axes 180of the three openings 176 are parallel to each other. The three openings176 define two webs 178 on either side of the central opening, and twoadditional webs 178, one to the left of the leftmost opening and one tothe right of the rightmost opening. The webs 178 have longitudinal axesbetween first and second ends 182, 184 that are substantially parallelto the major axes 180 of the openings 176.

The removal of the material from the plate 170 defines an embodimentwith webs 178 that have a width in the plane of the plate 170 that iscomparable in dimension to the thickness in the direction transverse tothe path of travel of material along the deck 130 (although otherembodiments may have other dimensions). Consequently, each of the webs178 thus formed is substantially smaller in thickness and width than inlength (i.e., the dimension in the direction along the longitudinal axisof the web 178 between the ends 182, 184). In addition, because of theoval shape of the openings 176, the illustrated webs 178 have ends 182,184 that are larger in width than at the midpoint of the webs 178. Infact, as illustrated, the ends 182, 184 taper toward the midpoint of theweb 178, although that may not be true of other embodiments. It fact, itwill be recognized that the thickness of the plate 170 may be variedrelative to a web 178 having a common (or identical) width to achievecertain spring characteristics, which could result in a family ofsprings with similar shape but differing spring rates. In addition or inthe alternative, the web width may be varied to vary the springcharacteristics, such as resultant rocking frequencies.

As is illustrated, each of the openings 176 and webs 178 is disposed atan angle to the path of travel of the materials along the deck 130between the first end 132 and the second end 134. For example, the axes180 are disposed at an angle to the path of travel of the materialsalong the deck 130, and similarly the longitudinal axes of the webs 178between the ends 182, 184 would be so inclined. The specific angle ofthe openings 176 and the webs 178 need not be the same for otherembodiments. For example, according to certain embodiments, the openings176 and webs 178 may be oriented generally upright (i.e., perpendicularto the deck 130).

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the webs 178 are generally of thesame shape between the ends 182, 184. According to other embodiments,the webs 178 formed by the openings 176 may have different shapes, suchthat each individual web 178 may even have a different shape. However,certain advantages may be associated with a plate having webs 178 of asimilar size and shape as illustrated.

The use of resilient members 106 in the form of webs 178 formed from theplates 170 may provide one or more of the following advantages.

Where the resilient member is not in the form of a coil spring, it isnot necessary to limit the material selection according to therequirements of coil spring fabrication. Consequently, materials thatmight not be fabricated easily into a coil spring, such as stainlesssteel, may be used for the resilient members in the form of webs 178.The use of stainless steel is particularly advantageous where theapparatus 100 is intended to meet a food-grade specification.

The webs 178 can be fashioned to provide a variety of stroke and springrate characteristics based not only on the material selection, but alsobased on the amount of material removed/remaining (i.e., openings176/webs 178). Consequently, a greater range of strokes and spring ratesmay be accommodated than may be the case with coil springs, which areconventionally manufactured in a standard set of sizes/rates. In fact,the greater range of strokes and spring rates possible provides forgreater facility to customize a particular apparatus 100 to meet acustomer's specific needs.

The manufacturing methods used to form openings 176 in the plates 170may also be much simpler than the methods used to form coil springs.Forming the openings 176 (e.g., burning) in the plates 170 may also bemore economically efficient and cost less.

In addition, the use of resilient members in the form of webs 178permits the exciter 102 to provide high frequency (e.g., kHz range andabove, or more particularly above 3600 Hz) vibration. Operation thatprovides high frequency, low stroke has a number of advantages.

High frequency vibration, for example, is better in certainapplications, such as fines screening, and has a tendency to fluidizematerial and cause piled material to spread. High frequency may also bebeneficial for use in conveying materials that are more fragile. Highfrequency operation may also lead to lower noise levels.

On the other hand, low stroke operation involves small dynamic forces.Consequently, the apparatus 100 can be disposed directly on thefoundation without special requirements (e.g., without isolation springs112), other than accepting the static load of the machine.Alternatively, the mechanism used for isolation may be much simpler(e.g., rubber pads). Further, the transfer points on and off theapparatus 100 require very little clearance, with smoother start up andshut down and lower risk of injury to the operator. This in turn maylead to a lesser potential for accidents to occur around the transferpoints. Low stroke operation may also have advantages when conveyingfragile materials.

Additional variants to the embodiment described above are possible.

For example, while the stroke and spring rate may be varied through theselection of materials and amount of material removed/retained to formthe webs, it is also possible to add additional plates. These plates,like the plates 170, would have openings formed therethrough to define aparticular stroke and spring rate. The plates would also be mounted withtheir thickness transverse to the path of travel. The additional plateswould be mounted outwardly from the first set of plates 170.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate such an embodiment wherein multiple plates areincluded. Because this embodiment is similar in structure to that ofFIGS. 1 and 2, those elements in common with the first embodiment arenumbered similarly, except that those of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4are denoted with a prime. While two sets of plates are illustrated inthe embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be understood that additionalsets of plates (e.g., three, four or more sets) may be used in aparticular embodiment.

As seen in FIG. 3, the apparatus 100′ includes an exciter 102′ and atrough 104′. Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the exciter102′ includes a base 110′ supported on isolation springs 112′, the base110′ having a platform 114′ with side walls 116′, 118′, and a motor 126′with shaft 120′ with eccentric weights 124′ disposed on the base 110′(and in particular the platform 114′). The trough 104′ has a deck 130′and side walls 140′, 142′, the side walls 140′, 142′ coupled to the sideedges 148′, 150′ of the deck 130′. The motor 126′ may be coupled to acontroller (not shown) as illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 but better visualized in FIG. 4, the apparatus100′ also includes a set of inner plates 190 and a set of outer plates192 disposed transversely outwardly from the inner plates 190. The innerplates 190 include a first end 194 that is coupled to one of the sidewalls 116′, 118′, and a second end 196 that is coupled to one of theside walls 140′, 142′. Similarly, the outer plates 192 include a firstend 198 that is coupled to one of the side walls 116′, 118′, and asecond end 200 that is coupled to one of the side walls 140′, 142′. Theplates 190, 192 are joined to the exciter 102′ and the trough 104′ withfasteners (e.g., bolts/nuts, rivets, etc.), for example. As illustrated,common set of fasteners are used to attach both the inner plates 190 andthe outer plates 192.

The inner plates 190 and outer plates 192 have openings 202, 204 andwebs 206, 208, as best seen in FIG. 3. As illustrated, the inner plates190 and the outer plates 192 have openings 202, 204 of generally thesame shape and generally the same area in the plane of the respectiveplate 190, 192, with generally the same placement on the plate 190, 192.Consequently, the webs 206, 208 have generally the same shape, size andplacement as well. Consequently, it would be expected that the springcharacteristics of the individual plates 190, 192 are substantially thesame.

According to other embodiments, the openings 202, 204 may vary, forexample, as to one or more of their shape (e.g., oval, rectangular,etc.), their area in the plane of the plate 190, 192, and theirplacement on the plate 190, 192. Consequently, the webs 206, 208 woulddiffer between the plates 190, 192. These differences may be used tovary the spring characteristics of the individual plates 190, 192, whichthus could be used to vary the composite spring characteristics for thecombined plates 190, 192 relative to what could be obtained simply byusing plates 190, 192 with openings 202, 204 having similar shape, sizeand placement. Moreover, the plates 190, 192 may be made of differentmaterials, so as to vary the spring characteristics of the plates 190,192, and thus to vary the spring characteristics of the compositespring(s).

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the plates 190, 192 may be spaced from thebase 110′ and the trough 104′, as well as from each other, according tocertain embodiments. In particular, the illustrated embodiment includesspacers 210 that are disposed between the first end 194 of the innerplates 190 and the side walls 116′, 118′ of the base 110′, and spacers212 are disposed between the second end 196 of the inner plates 190 andthe side walls 140′, 142′ of the trough 104′ (i.e., to either side ofthe deck 130′). In a similar fashion, spacers 214 are disposed betweenthe first ends 194, 198 of the plates 190, 192 and spacers 216 aredisposed between the second ends 196, 200 of the plates 190, 192.

According to still another embodiment, one or more of the plates may beformed as a single piece (i.e., integrally) with the side walls of thebase 110, 110′ (and thus the exciter 102, 102′). Such an embodimentwould eliminate the need to fasten the first ends of the plates (and thefirst ends of the webs) to the side walls of the base 110, 110′.According to still another embodiment, one or more of the plates may beformed as a single piece (i.e., integrally) with the side walls of thetrough 104, 104′. Such an embodiment would eliminate the need to fastenthe second ends of the plates (and the second ends of the webs) to theside walls of the trough 104, 104′. In fact, a single embodiment mayhave the plates formed as a single piece with the side walls of the base110, 110′ and the side walls of the trough 104, 104′.

A linear, multi-deck apparatus 250 according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. This embodiment alsoillustrates an embodiment that would be structurally and operationallysimilar to the one-deck apparatuses 100, 100′ if the plates 170, 190were formed as a single piece with the side walls of the base 110, 110′and the trough 104, 104′.

The embodiment of a multi-deck apparatus 250 of FIGS. 5 and 6 is atwo-mass vibratory apparatus, including a first mass 252 and a secondmass 254. Connected between the first mass 252 and the second mass 254are a number of resilient members 256 (or reactor springs), which areformed from structural elements of the apparatus 250.

Each mass 252, 254 defines a trough 258, 260. Each trough 258, 260includes a deck 262, 264. As illustrated, the second deck 264 is above,or at a higher elevation than the first deck 262 relative to a referencesurface. The reference surface may be defined by a foundation, which inturn may be the ground story of a building or an upper story of such astructure. As such, the second deck 264 may be referred to as the topdeck 264, and the first deck 262 may be referred to as the bottom deck262.

Each deck 262, 264 has a first end 266, 268 and a second end 270, 272.Material may be moved along each deck 262, 264 with a path of travelbetween a first point and a second point, e.g., between the first andsecond ends 266, 268, 270, 272. The deck 262, 264 also may have opposingsurfaces, which for ease of illustration may be referred to as a first,or top, surface 274, 276 and a second, or bottom, surface 278, 280,considering the orientation of the apparatus 250 in FIGS. 5 and 6.

As was the case above, the top surfaces 274, 276 of the decks 262, 264may be treated or may have one or more protective layers disposedthereon to protect the deck 262, 264 as material is moved between thefirst and second ends 266, 268, 270, 272. The deck 262, 264 may haveopenings or passages that extend between the surfaces 274, 276, 278, 280to permit the separation of material moving over the top surfaces 274,276 of the decks 262, 264. According to certain embodiments, the deck264 may have openings or passages, while the deck 262 does not;alternatively, the deck 264 may have openings or passages of aparticular size or shape, and the deck 262 may have openings or passagesof a different size or shape, such that one size of materials passesalong deck 264, a smaller sized material passes along deck 262, and astill smaller sized material passes through the deck 262.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first ends 266, 268 of the decks 262,264 are at substantially the same elevation as the second end 270, 272of the decks 262, 264 relative to a reference surface (i.e., the deck ishorizontal). The reference surface may be defined by a foundation, whichin turn may be the ground story of a building or an upper story of sucha structure. According to other embodiments, the first end 266, 268 ofthe deck 262, 264 may be above or below the second end 270, 272 of thedeck 262, 264 (i.e., the deck 262, 264 is tilted or sloped, for exampleto allow gravity to assist or retard motion of material along the deck262, 264). Further, it is not necessary that the slope or inclination ofthe deck 262 be the same or in the same direction as that of the deck264.

The trough 258 may also include a first side wall 282 and a second sidewall 284 extending or depending from the first end 266 to the second end270, although not all embodiments of the apparatus 250 necessarilyrequire such side walls 282, 284 (e.g., the side walls 282, 284 may notextend or depend from the first end 266 to the second end 270). Thefirst and second side walls 282, 284 have facing surfaces 286, 288 thatwith the surface 274 of the deck 262 and the surface 280 of the deck 264define an closed-topped volume.

The trough 260 may also include a first side wall 292 and a second sidewall 294 extending or depending from the first end 268 to the second end272, although not all embodiments of the apparatus 250 necessarilyrequire such side walls 292, 294 (e.g., the side walls 292, 294 may notextend or depend from the first end 268 to the second end 272). Thefirst and second side walls 292, 294 have facing surfaces 296, 298 thatwith the surface 276 of the deck 264 define an open-topped volume(although other embodiments may include a hood.

The decks 262, 264 are disposed between the first and second side walls282, 284, 292, 294 and are coupled to the first and second side walls282, 284, 292, 294. In this regard, the decks 262, 264 are coupled tothe side walls 282, 284, 292, 294 when the deck and side walls aredirectly connected or indirectly connected (for example, when the sidewalls are connected by cross-members and the deck is connected to thecross-members). As illustrated, the deck 262 has a first edge 300 thatis coupled to the first side wall 282 (specifically, the inner-facingsurface 286) and a second edge 302 that is coupled to the second sideedge 284 (specifically, the inner-facing surface 288). Similarly, thedeck 264 has a first edge 304 that is coupled to the first side wall 292(specifically, the inner-facing surface 296) and a second edge 306 thatis coupled to the second side edge 294 (specifically, the inner-facingsurface 298).

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the apparatus 250 may also include a shaft 310with a shaft axis disposed transverse to the path of travel along thetroughs 258, 260. The shaft 310 may be coupled to the mass 252, andparticularly the surface 278 of the deck 262, and one or more eccentricor eccentric weights 314 may be coupled to the shaft 310. It will berecognized that an alternative arrangement would be for the assembly ofshaft 310 and weights 314 to be coupled instead to the mass 254, aseither option is acceptable. According to certain embodiments, the shaft310 is the shaft of an electric motor 316, which motor 316 is coupled(e.g., by fasteners) to the deck 264. According to other embodiments,the shaft 310 is coupled to a shaft of an electric motor, which motor ismounted off the apparatus (e.g., to the side of the apparatus 250). Theshaft 310, weights 314 and motor 316 have been omitted from FIG. 6 tosimplify the discussion of certain other elements of the apparatus 250.

According to other embodiments, a plurality of shafts may be used, eachwith eccentric weights mounted thereon, with each of the shafts beingdefined by one of a plurality of motors. In addition, the motor 316 maybe electrically coupled to a controller 318, which controller 318 mayinclude a microprocessor and memory. The controller 318 may beconfigured (e.g., programmed) to control the operation of the motor 316(and thus the shaft 310) to vary the motion of the material on the decks262, 264. According to certain embodiments, the masses 252, 254 maystroke 180 degrees out of phase to each other, but may convey materialsin the same direction (e.g., from ends 266, 268 to ends 270, 272).

As illustrated, the side walls 282, 292 and the side walls 284, 294 areformed from a single plate 320, 322. The first and second plates 320,322 may have a plurality of openings 324 formed in through the plates320, 322. The plurality of openings 324 may be generally disposed alonga linear path from the first ends 266, 268 of the decks 262, 264 to thesecond ends 270, 272 of the decks 262, 264. In particular, the openings324 may be disposed such that the openings are formed in the plates 320,322 between the attachment points between first and second deck sections262, 264 and the plates 320, 322 (and thus the side walls 282, 284, 292,294).

The openings 324 define a plurality of webs 326 that join the portion ofthe first side wall 282 and second side wall 284 supporting the firstdeck section 262 with the portions of the first side wall 292 and secondside wall 294 supporting the second deck section 264. These webs 326have a thickness that is disposed transverse to the path of travel ofmaterial along the decks 262, 264 between the first ends 266, 268 andthe second end 270, 272. According to certain embodiments, the webs 326may also have a width that is comparable to their thickness, both ofwhich dimensions are smaller than the length of the webs 326 from oneend of the web to the other. In fact, much of the discussion aboverelative to the webs 178 applies with equal force to the webs 326.

The webs 326 thus define a plurality of resilient members or springscoupled between the side wall portions 282, 284 supporting the firstdeck section 262 and the side wall portions 292, 294 supporting thesecond deck section 264. Alternatively, the side wall portions 282, 284and first deck section 262 may be referred to as the first tier, and theside wall portions 292, 294 and the second deck section 264 may bereferred to as the second tier. As such, the webs 326 may be describedas being coupled to the first tier at a first end 328 and the secondtier at a second end 330.

While an embodiment having a first and second tier has been illustrated,it will be recognized that other embodiments of the conveyor accordingto the present disclosure may include additional decks definingadditional tiers (e.g., third, fourth, fifth and sixth tiers). Accordingto such embodiments, the plurality of webs may be disposed between thefirst and second tiers, such that the first tier defines the first massand the second through sixth tiers define the second mass. As onealternative, the webs may be defined between the third and fourth tiers,such that the first, second, and third tiers define the first mass, andthe fourth, fifth and sixth tiers define the second mass. Otheralternatives are possible.

In addition, according to certain embodiments, it may be possible toattach additional plates outside the side walls of an apparatus, such asillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, to vary the spring characteristics. Inthis regard, the additional plates may be added as is illustrated in theembodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, except that the inner set of plates wouldbe defined by the side walls having openings therethrough to define thewebs acting as springs, such as is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Theouter set of plates may not depend or extend to the top and bottom ofthe side walls, but may be located only in that region of the apparatusthat substantially overlies the webs formed in the side walls of theapparatus.

For that matter, it may be possible to design a multi-tier apparatuswherein the first and second tiers are coupled to plates, such as areillustrated in FIGS. 1-4, that are in turn secured to side walls,instead of forming the webs from plates that are formed as one piece(i.e., integrally) with the side walls.

The multi-deck or multi-tier embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 are linearbetween the opposing ends. On the other hand, multi-tier embodiments maybe defined for an apparatus having a curved deck. Certain multi-tierembodiments may be defined for an apparatus having a spiral deck.Preferably, the spiral deck has a continuous (or substantiallycontinuous) deck between an inlet end and an outlet end.

A spiral conveyor 350 is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Spiral conveyorsare often used to heat or cool work pieces or granular material. Forexample, red-hot castings (which may have a temperature of approximately1000 degrees F. or more) are fed into the spiral conveyor. Cool air isdirected over the castings as the castings travel up the spiral, therebyto reduce the temperature of the castings.

The spiral conveyor 350 includes a curved deck 352 that extends betweena first end 354 and a second end 356. In particular, the curved deck 352may have a spiral shape, and thus the conveyor 350 may be referred to asa spiral conveyor. As used herein, spiral includes helical and helicoidshapes.

The curved deck 352 may have opposing surfaces, which for ease ofillustration may be referred to as a first, or top, surface 360 and asecond, or bottom, surface 362. In operation, material may move in acurved path of travel over the top surface 360 of the spiral deck 352between the first end 354 and the second end 356 of the deck 352. Thetop surface 360 of the spiral deck 352 may be treated or may have one ormore protective layers disposed thereon to protect the deck 352 asmaterial is moved between the first and second ends 354, 356.

As material follows a curved path of travel along the spiral deck 352,the elevation of the material may increase or decrease relative to areference surface. The reference surface may be defined by a foundation,which in turn may be the ground story of a building or an upper story ofsuch a structure. As illustrated, the spiral deck 352 may increase inelevation from the first end 354 to the second end 356, such that afirst deck section 370 may be disposed below a second deck section 372relative to the reference surface on which the spiral conveyor 350 isdisposed. As illustrated, the first end 354 of the deck 352 may bedesignated the lowest point or elevation, while the second end 356 ofthe deck 352 may be designated the highest point or elevation.

As illustrated, the first deck section 370 is joined to the second decksection 372 to form a substantially continuous surface between the firstend 354 and the second end 356 of the deck 352. Moreover, given theincreasing elevation of successive deck sections 370, 372 as describedrelative to FIGS. 1 and 2, the top surface 360 of the first section 370faces the bottom surface 362 of the second section 372.

A shaft 380 with eccentric weights 382 mounted on the shaft 380 iscoupled to the first section 370. The shaft 380 may be defined by amotor 384, similar to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. Whileonly one assembly of shaft 380, weights 382, and motor 384 isillustrated, multiple assemblies will likely be mounted to the firstsection 370. According to certain embodiments, the action of theassembly of shaft 380, weights 382, and motor 384 moves material, suchas work pieces (e.g., hot castings), from the first end 354 to thesecond end 356 (i.e., upward or vertically upward). According to otherembodiments, the assembly/assemblies may cause material to move alongthe top surface 360 of the spiral deck 352 from the second end 356 tothe first end 354, so that the material is conveyed vertically downwardalong the spiral deck 352.

The spiral deck 352 may be coupled to a frame 390 that is supported onthe reference surface. In particular, the frame 390 may be supported onthe reference surface by resilient members 392, such as coil springs ormarshmallow springs, which resilient members or springs 392 may also bereferred to as isolation members or springs. However, the springs 392may be omitted according to other embodiments, and are consideredoptional in the illustrated embodiment.

The frame 390 may include a cylindrical inner wall 394 and a cylindricalouter wall 396. The cylindrical inner wall 394 may have a firstdiameter, and the cylindrical outer wall 396 may have a second diameter.The first diameter may be smaller than the second diameter, such thatthe inner wall 394 may be disposed within the outer wall 396. Asillustrated, the inner wall 394 and the outer wall 396 may have a commoncenter, although this need not be the case according to all embodiments.

The inner wall 394 and the outer wall 396 have inner-facing andouter-facing surfaces. For example, the inner wall 394 has aninner-facing surface 398 and an outer-facing surface 400, and the outerwall 396 has an inner-facing surface 402 and an outer-facing surface404. As illustrated, the inner-facing surface 402 of the outer wall 396faces the outer-facing surface 400 of the inner wall 394.

The spiral deck 352 may have an inner edge 406 and an outer edge 408,the inner edge 406 being closer to the center in a radial direction thanthe outer edge 408 (alternatively, the outer edge 408 is further fromthe center in a radial direction than the inner edge 406). According tocertain embodiments, a diameter taken at the inner edge 406 may begreater than or equal to the first diameter of the cylindrical innerwall 394, and a diameter taken at the outer edge 408 may be less than orequal to the second diameter of the cylindrical outer wall 396.

The spiral deck 352 is disposed between and coupled to the inner wall394 and the outer wall 396.

According to certain embodiments, the spiral deck may be coupled to theinner and outer walls 394, 396 directly. According to this embodiment,the inner edge 406 of the spiral deck 352 is joined to the outer-facingsurface 400 of the inner wall 394, and the outer edge 408 of the spiraldeck 352 is joined to the inner-facing surface 402 of the outer wall396. The edges 406, 408 and surfaces 400, 402 may be joined by weldingthe edges 406, 408 and surfaces 400, 402, for example. As analternative, the edges 406, 480 may be coupled to the surfaces 400, 402with clamps, as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,296,951, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein for all purposes

According to the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 8, the inner and outeredges 406, 408 of the spiral deck 352 are spaced from the inner andouter walls 394, 396. That is the inner edge 406 of the deck 352 isspaced from the outer-facing surface 400 of the inner wall 394, and theouter edge 408 of the deck 352 is spaced from the inner-facing surface402 of the outer wall 396 to form a first gap 410 between the inneredge/outer-facing surface 406, 400 and a second gap 412 between theouter edge/inner-facing surface 408, 402. In such a circumstance,cross-supports 414 may be joined at a first end 416 to the inner wall394 and at a second end 418 to the outer wall 396, and the bottomsurface 362 of the spiral deck 352 may be disposed on the cross-supports414. In fact, the bottom surface 362 of the spiral deck 352 may bedirectly connected (e.g., with fasteners) to the cross-supports 414.According to such an embodiment, guide rails may be disposed at theinner and outer edges 406, 408 of the spiral deck 352.

As illustrated, the inner and outer walls 394, 396 may have a pluralityof openings 420 formed in through the inner and outer walls 394, 396 (ofwhich only the openings 420 in the outer wall 396 are visible in FIG.7). The plurality of openings 420 may be formed generally along a curvedor spiral path through the inner and outer walls 394, 396. Inparticular, the openings 420 may be disposed such that the openings 420are formed in the inner and outer walls 394, 396 between the attachmentpoints between first and second deck sections 370, 372 and the inner andouter walls 394, 396.

The openings 420 define a plurality of webs 422 that join the portion ofthe inner wall 394 and outer wall 396 supporting the first deck section370 with the portions of the inner wall 394 and outer wall 396supporting the second deck section 372. These webs 422 have a thicknessthat is disposed transverse to the path of travel of material along thecurved deck 352 between the first end 354 and the second end 356 that ismuch smaller than the length and width of the walls 394, 396. The webs422 may also have a width that is comparable to their thickness, both ofwhich dimensions are smaller than the length of the webs 422 from oneend of the web to the other. In fact, much of the discussion aboverelative to the webs 178 applies with equal force to the webs 422.

The webs 422 thus define a plurality of resilient members or springscoupled between portions or sections of the inner and outer wall 394,396 supporting the first deck section 370 and the portions or sectionsof inner and outer wall 394, 396 supporting the second deck section 372.See FIG. 7. Furthermore, the inner and outer wall 394, 396 and firstdeck section 370 may be referred to as the first tier, and the inner andouter wall 394, 396 and the second deck section 372 may be referred toas the second tier. In particular, the first and second tier may bedefined such that the length of the path of travel from the first end354 to the junction between the first and second tiers is the same asthe junction between the first and second tiers and the second end 356.As such, the webs 422 may be described as being coupled to the firsttier at a first end 424 and the second tier at a second end 426.

According to such embodiments, the shafts/weights 380, 382 may becoupled to the first tier directly, for example by providingcross-members that connect the inner and outer walls 394, 396 below thebottom of the lowest portion of the spiral deck 352 and connecting theshafts/weights 380, 382 directly to those cross-members. The assembly ofshaft/weights 380, 382 and the first tier of the conveyor may thusdefine a first mass of a two-mass vibratory conveyor, while the secondtier defines the second mass of the two-mass vibratory conveyor.

While an embodiment having a first and second tier has been illustrated,it will be recognized that other embodiments of the spiral conveyoraccording to the present disclosure may include additional tiers (e.g.,third, fourth, fifth and sixth tiers). According to such embodiments,the plurality of webs may be disposed between the first and secondtiers, such that the first tier defines the first mass and the secondthrough sixth tiers define the second mass. As one alternative, the websmay be defined between the third and fourth tiers, such that the first,second, and third tiers define the first mass, and the fourth, fifth andsixth tiers define the second mass. Other alternatives are possible.

A vibratory conveyor according to the above embodiments thus may provideone or more of the following advantages, some of which also may havebeen mentioned above. The cost of using resilient members in the form ofwebs, such as may be formed by forming an opening in a plate or sidewall, may be much less than the cost of using coil springs, which areformed using a more complicated manufacturing process. In addition,materials may be used for the resilient members in the form of webs thatare not suitable for use in coil springs, such as stainless steel. Theresilient members in the form of webs both provide a particular springrate and limit the direction of the motion, and consequently provide areduced cost relative to apparatuses using coil springs, because a legor linkage is required in such coil spring installations to limit thedirection of motion and the additional equipment increases the overallcost. The resilient members in the form of webs disposed as the sides ofthe apparatus (i.e., parallel to the direction of motion instead oftransverse) permit a less complicated, costly installation and limit oreliminate the localized stresses involved with the use of slat springs.For example, if it is desired to vary the spring characteristics, oneneed only attach additional plates, which plates are convenientlydisposed outside of the bulk of the apparatus. When used as a two-massvibratory apparatus, a smaller motor may be used than with vibratoryapparatuses using a brute force arrangement with the motor directlydriving the trough. The two-mass arrangement may also provide betterload response and smoother start and stop, while still providing highfrequency performance. In addition, brute force apparatuses can belimited in length by the effect of vertical deflections. The springaccording to the present disclosure enables a design better able todistribute driving forces down the length of the unit. This may reducecantilever length, unintended deflections, and stress making it possibleto design longer high frequency units

While certain equipment has been described relative to the illustratedembodiments, additional equipment could be included as well. Forexample, relative to the spiral conveyor, the cross-members 414 may behollow and fitted with one or more nozzles. Cooling air, generated by afan for example, may be passed through the hollow cross-members andnozzles, and directed on the material passing along the deck to cool thematerial. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,694, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein for all purposes. The spiral conveyor also beconfigured to provide a fines collection system, such as also isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,694, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein for all purposes.

Additional embodiments/aspects are as follows:

Embodiment 1

A vibratory apparatus comprising:

a first mass;

a second mass,

at least one of the first mass and the second mass having a deck with apath of travel between a first point and a second point along the deck;

at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness,the plate coupled at a first end to the first mass and at a second endto the second mass with the thickness disposed transverse to the path oftravel along the deck, the plate having at least one opening formedtherethrough to form a web having a spring characteristic;

a shaft coupled to one of the first mass and the second mass, the shafthaving at least one eccentric weight coupled thereto; and

a motor coupled to the shaft.

Embodiment 2

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein the firstmass has a platform, the second mass has a deck with a path of travelbetween a first point and a second point along the deck, the plate iscoupled at the first end to the platform and at the second end to thedeck, and the shaft is coupled to the platform.

Embodiment 3

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 2, wherein the platformhas side walls and the second mass has side walls coupled to either sideof the deck, and the plate is coupled at the first end to one of theside walls of the platform and the second end to one of the side wallsof the second mass.

Embodiment 4

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 3, wherein the at leastone resilient member comprises at least two plates, each plate coupledat a first end to one of the side walls of the platform and at a secondend to one of the side walls of the second mass.

Embodiment 5

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 4, wherein each of theat least two plates are coupled to a different one of the side walls ofthe platform and the side walls of the second mass.

Embodiment 6

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 4, wherein the at leasttwo plates comprise an inner plate and an outer plate disposedtransversely outwardly from the inner plate, the inner plate and theouter plate each having a first end coupled to the first mass and asecond end to the second mass with the thickness disposed transverse tothe path of travel along the deck, each plate having at least oneopening formed therethrough to form a web having a springcharacteristic.

Embodiment 7

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein each of thefirst mass and the second mass has a deck with a path of travel betweena first point and a second point along the deck, and the plate has itsthickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along the deck.

Embodiment 8

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 7, wherein each of thefirst mass and the second mass has side walls coupled to the deck ateither side, and the plate is coupled at the first end to the deck ofthe first mass and at the second end to the deck of the second mass.

Embodiment 9

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 7 or 8, wherein the atleast one resilient member comprises at least two plates, each platecoupled at a first end to the first mass and at a second end to thesecond mass with the thickness of the plate disposed transverse to thepath of travel along the decks, each plate having at least one openingformed therethrough to form a web having a spring characteristic.

Embodiment 10

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 9, wherein the at leasttwo plates define an inner plate and an outer plate, the inner plate andthe outer plate having a cylindrical form with a diameter of the innerplate being smaller than a diameter of the inner plate and the first andsecond decks disposed between and coupled to the inner and outer plates.

Embodiment 11

The vibratory apparatus according to any one of embodiments 7-10,wherein the deck of the first mass and the deck of the second mass aredefined by a single continuous spiral deck.

Embodiment 12

The vibratory apparatus according to any of the preceding embodiments,wherein the plate has a plurality of openings formed therethrough toform a plurality of webs.

Embodiment 13

The vibratory apparatus according to any of the preceding embodiments,wherein the openings and the webs are disposed at an angle to the deck.

Embodiment 14

A vibratory apparatus comprising:

a trough comprising deck with a path of travel between a first point anda second point along the deck;

an exciter comprising a platform, and a shaft disposed on the platformwith a shaft axis disposed transverse to the path of travel, and atleast one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft; and

at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness,the plate coupled at one end to the platform and at a second end to thedeck, the plate having a thickness disposed transverse to the path oftravel along the deck, and at least one opening formed therethrough toform a web having a spring characteristic.

Embodiment 15

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 14, wherein the at leastone resilient member comprises at least two plates, an inner plate andan outer plate disposed transversely outwardly from the inner plate, theinner plate and the outer plate each having a first end coupled to theplatform and a second end to the deck with the thickness disposedtransverse to the path of travel along the deck, each plate having atleast one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a springcharacteristic.

Embodiment 16

A vibratory apparatus comprising:

a first mass comprising a first deck with a path of travel between afirst point and a second point along the first deck;

a second mass comprising a second deck with a path of travel between afirst point and a second point along the second deck;

a shaft coupled to the first mass and at least one eccentric weightcoupled to the shaft; and

at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness,the plate coupled at a first end to the first deck and at a second endto the second deck, the plate having a thickness disposed transverse tothe path of travel along the first and second decks, the plate having atleast one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a springcharacteristic.

Embodiment 17

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 16, wherein the firstmass comprises side walls coupled to either side of the first deck, thesecond mass comprises side walls attach to either side of the seconddeck, and the plate is coupled at the first end to one of the side wallsof the first mass and at the second end to one of the side walls of thesecond mass.

Embodiment 18

The vibratory apparatus according to embodiment 17, wherein the firstdeck and the second deck are defined by a single continuous spiral deck.

Embodiment 19

The vibratory apparatus according to any one of embodiments 16-18,further comprising a motor coupled to the one shaft, the motor coupledto the first mass.

Embodiment 20

The vibratory apparatus according to any one of embodiments 16-19,wherein the plate has a plurality of openings formed therethrough toform a plurality of webs.

Although the preceding text sets forth a detailed description ofdifferent embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that thelegal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims setforth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to beconstrued as exemplary only and does not describe every possibleembodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodimentwould be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternativeembodiments could be implemented, using either current technology ortechnology developed after the filing date of this patent, which wouldstill fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.

It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined inthis patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘_(——————)’ ishereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intentto limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication,beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not beinterpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in anysection of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To theextent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent isreferred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning,that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader,and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implicationor otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element isdefined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recitalof any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim elementbe interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).

What is claimed is:
 1. A vibratory apparatus comprising: a first mass; asecond mass, at least one of the first mass and the second mass having adeck with a path of travel between a first point and a second pointalong the deck; at least one resilient member in the form of a platehaving a thickness, the plate coupled at a first end to the first massand at a second end to the second mass with the thickness disposedtransverse to the path of travel along the deck, the plate having atleast one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a springcharacteristic; a shaft coupled to one of the first mass and the secondmass, the shaft having at least one eccentric weight coupled thereto;and a motor coupled to the shaft.
 2. The vibratory apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the first mass has a platform, the second mass has adeck with a path of travel between a first point and a second pointalong the deck, the plate is coupled at the first end to the platformand at the second end to the deck, and the shaft is coupled to theplatform.
 3. The vibratory apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theplatform has side walls and the second mass has side walls coupled toeither side of the deck, and the plate is coupled at the first end toone of the side walls of the platform and the second end to one of theside walls of the second mass.
 4. The vibratory apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the at least one resilient member comprises at leasttwo plates, each plate coupled at a first end to one of the side wallsof the platform and at a second end to one of the side walls of thesecond mass.
 5. The vibratory apparatus according to claim 4, whereineach of the at least two plates are coupled to a different one of theside walls of the platform and the side walls of the second mass.
 6. Thevibratory apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least twoplates comprise an inner plate and an outer plate disposed transverselyoutwardly from the inner plate, the inner plate and the outer plate eachhaving a first end coupled to the first mass and a second end to thesecond mass with the thickness disposed transverse to the path of travelalong the deck, each plate having at least one opening formedtherethrough to form a web having a spring characteristic.
 7. Thevibratory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first massand the second mass has a deck with a path of travel between a firstpoint and a second point along the deck, and the plate has its thicknessdisposed transverse to the path of travel along the deck.
 8. Thevibratory apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of the first massand the second mass has side walls coupled to the deck at either side,and the plate is coupled at the first end to the deck of the first massand at the second end to the deck of the second mass.
 9. The vibratoryapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one resilientmember comprises at least two plates, each plate coupled at a first endto the first mass and at a second end to the second mass with thethickness of the plate disposed transverse to the path of travel alongthe decks, each plate having at least one opening formed therethrough toform a web having a spring characteristic.
 10. The vibratory apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the at least two plates define an innerplate and an outer plate, the inner plate and the outer plate having acylindrical form with a diameter of the inner plate being smaller than adiameter of the inner plate and the first and second decks disposedbetween and coupled to the inner and outer plates.
 11. The vibratoryapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the deck of the first mass andthe deck of the second mass are defined by a single continuous spiraldeck.
 12. The vibratory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theplate has a plurality of openings formed therethrough to form aplurality of webs.
 13. The vibratory apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the openings and the webs are disposed at an angle to the deck.14. A vibratory apparatus comprising: a trough comprising deck with apath of travel between a first point and a second point along the deck;an exciter comprising a platform, and a shaft disposed on the platformwith a shaft axis disposed transverse to the path of travel, and atleast one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft; and at least oneresilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness, the platecoupled at one end to the platform and at a second end to the deck, theplate having a thickness disposed transverse to the path of travel alongthe deck, and at least one opening formed therethrough to form a webhaving a spring characteristic.
 15. The vibratory apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein the at least one resilient member comprises at leasttwo plates, an inner plate and an outer plate disposed transverselyoutwardly from the inner plate, the inner plate and the outer plate eachhaving a first end coupled to the platform and a second end to the deckwith the thickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along thedeck, each plate having at least one opening formed therethrough to forma web having a spring characteristic.
 16. A vibratory apparatuscomprising: a first mass comprising a first deck with a path of travelbetween a first point and a second point along the first deck; a secondmass comprising a second deck with a path of travel between a firstpoint and a second point along the second deck; a shaft coupled to thefirst mass and at least one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft; andat least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness,the plate coupled at a first end to the first deck and at a second endto the second deck, the plate having a thickness disposed transverse tothe path of travel along the first and second decks, the plate having atleast one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a springcharacteristic.
 17. The vibratory apparatus according to claim 16,wherein the first mass comprises side walls coupled to either side ofthe first deck, the second mass comprises side walls attach to eitherside of the second deck, and the plate is coupled at the first end toone of the side walls of the first mass and at the second end to one ofthe side walls of the second mass.
 18. The vibratory apparatus accordingto claim 17, wherein the first deck and the second deck are defined by asingle continuous spiral deck.
 19. The vibratory apparatus according toclaim 16, further comprising a motor coupled to the one shaft, the motorcoupled to the first mass.
 20. The vibratory apparatus according toclaim 16, wherein the plate has a plurality of openings formedtherethrough to form a plurality of webs.